The immigration attorney Willy Allen announced earlier this week that there might be good news for Cubans holding the I-220A document before this Wednesday, although he clarified that he does not have a verified source and prefers to wait for confirmation before making a formal announcement.
The statement was made during the program hosted by Tania Costa, where the presenter summarized the lawyer's position: "He has already said that there might be news about the I-220A, but he does not have a verified source and prefers to wait and see if anything happens by Wednesday. Let's keep our fingers crossed."
Allen himself expressed his preference for lawyer Liudmila Marcelo to be the one to deliver the news if it is finally confirmed. "In reality, if something happens, I prefer that Liudmila Marcelo has the pleasure of telling you. She tells it better. She is sweeter, more decent, more pleasant," he said.
The announcement generated anticipation among thousands of Cubans who closely follow any developments in this lengthy immigration process. The I-220A is a supervision release order issued by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that allows an individual to remain outside of custody while their case remains open, but it is not considered parole nor a formal admission into the United States, a matter currently under review by the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA).
That distinction is key: the Cuban Adjustment Act requires individuals to have been "admitted or paroled" in order to apply for permanent residency after one year and one day in the country, which leaves holders of the I-220A in a migratory limbo.
The latest legal landscape includes a ruling from the 11th Circuit on February 23, 2026 that overturned previous decisions by the Board of Immigration Appeals and remanded the cases for new review, with binding effect in Florida, Georgia, and Alabama, but without mandating automatic residency.
In July 2026, judges in Orlando, New Orleans, and San Antonio granted residency to some Cubans with I-220A, but the federal government immediately appealed those decisions, putting them on hold.
This judicial pressure is compounded by a new procedural burden. As of August 1, 2026, a federal rule went into effect that directly sends many Cubans with I-220A to immigration court without a prior interview with an asylum officer.
Regarding the timelines, Allen had estimated in July 2026 that a definitive decision from the Board of Immigration Appeals could arrive between October and November of that year, while Luzmila Marcelo projected a resolution between January and February 2027.
Also, on August 1, Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar issued a warning to Cubans with I-220A regarding attempts to forge documents or obtain a parole through notaries.
While the community waits, Allen left a message of patience for those who have already received the acknowledgment of their residency application: "If you received the receipt, the residency. Take a deep breath and be patient."
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